Carolina was called for eight penalties costing 73 yards, including five that awarded the 49ers first downs. Perhaps the most blatant infraction occurred on the game's opening possession when safety Mike Mitchell blasted tight end Vernon Davis after quarterback Colin Kaepernick's third-and-6 pass from the Carolina 40-yard line fell incomplete.

Mitchell was flagged for a 15-yard, unnecessary roughness penalty, setting up the first of three Phil Dawson field goals.

More significant than those mental breakdowns, San Francisco's defense stuffed the Panthers twice at the 1-yard line on a pair of inspired first-half, goal-line stands.

"There were some things that happened in the first half that really bothered me,'' Rivera said. "The question was asked about how disappointing. We lost our composure a couple times and (they) got inside our head.''

Ultimately, the defending NFC Champion 49ers showed why they now stand one win from returning to the Super Bowl heading into Sunday's NFC title game at the Seattle Seahawks.

"I don't know if it was their Super Bowl or not, but it was another game for us,'' 49ers safety Donte Whitner said of the Panthers.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was upset when he was stuffed on a 1-yard goal line keeper by linebacker Ahmad Brooks after he persuaded Rivera he would score on the first play of the second quarter.

"That's what's so disheartening about it -- not scoring in the red zone, especially so close on the 1-yard line,'' Newton said.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform in situations and when I don't do it, I wear my emotions on my sleeves. I take it even harder when I call the play and it doesn't work out.''

San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh reveled in his defense's ability to hold the Panthers to Graham Gano's 24-yard field goal on eight plays from inside the San Francisco 7-yard line.

"Facts are stubborn things and ... you keep them out of the end zone on the goal line, that is a statement,'' Harbaugh said. "They were just playing football and they got it done.''

Newton denied the Panthers can only blame themselves for the meltdowns that have them home watching the rest of the Super Bowl XLVIII tournament from their couches.

"It has nothing to do with inexperience,'' Newton said. "That has a lot to do with being careless and not holding yourself accountable, whether it's a holding call, offsides call, personal foul, late hit or whatever.

"Those guys didn't make those penalties and we did.''

Still, the future appears bright for the 12-5 Panthers, with Newton showing impressive growth during his third season, throwing for a career-best 25 touchdowns with six more rushing scores in addition to leading four game-winning comebacks.

Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly led the team this season with 156 tackles.(Photo: Jeremy Brevard, USA TODAY Sports)

Second-year linebacker Luke Kuechly, who led the Panthers with 156 tackles and added 10 more Sunday, remains a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate. And Rivera and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott's second-ranked scoring defense led the league with 60 sacks.

"With the age I'm at right now, this is one of the best teams I've been around,'' said 13th-year veteran receiver Steve Smith, 34. "We've got some young players that are going to be dynamic. And I personally think Luke Kuechly has the potential to be the defensive player of the year.

"He just reminds me of Brian Urlacher and Zach Thomas, one of those old-school fundamental guys. He's outstanding.''

Will Smith return for one more run at the Super Bowl he reached after the 2003 season only to lose to the New England Patriots?

"Contractually, I'm going to play next year,'' said Smith, who signed a three-year, 2012 extension that will keep him in Carolina through 2015.